Biography:

Dr. Heather Dulas is an Assistant Professor of Special Populations in the department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at University of Houston. Her research interests include implementing evidence-based strategies to increase prosocial behaviors that encourage obtaining and maintaining competitive employment, increasing access to inclusive postsecondary education opportunities for individuals with disabilities, developing self-determination skills among individuals with disabilities, and training and retention of special education teachers in public schools. Dr. Dulas has 21 years of teaching experience in the public high school special education setting within Title I schools, 4 years teaching experience in inclusive postsecondary settings, and 2 years administrative experience in the comprehensive transition program setting along with lifelong experience as a strong advocate for a sibling with multiple disabilities. Her leadership positions on Community Interagency Committees in both Minnesota and Texas centered on providing high quality, appropriate resources and interventions to students with disabilities and their families in underserved districts.

Recent Publications:

Dulas, H. M., Bowman-Perrott, L., Georgio, T. E., Dunn, C. M., & Li, Y. (2025). Increasing prosocial employment skills for adolescents with emotional behavioral disorders: A systematic literature review and quality review. Behavioral Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1177/01987429251314384 (5 year IF=2.6)

Dulas, H. M. & Gilson, C. B. (2024). Perceptions of educators using job coaching to
increase workplace social skills for individuals with disabilities. DADD Online Journal,
11(1), 22-39. https://daddcec.com/sites/default/files/2025-01/doj_2024_final.pdf

Peña, H. & Dulas, H. M. (2024). Bridging the Communication Gap: A scoping review
of promising strategies for adults with severe/profound intellectual disability [Commentary]. Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention, 1-7.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17489539.2024.2412860

Li, Y.-F., Zhang, D., Dulas, H. M., & Whirley, M. L. (2024). Academic learning experiences
and challenges of students with disabilities in higher education. Journal of Postsecondary Student Success. https://doi.org/10.33009/fsop_jpss134617

Sinclair, J., Gilson, C. B., & Dulas, H. (2023). “I’m going to be a working person”: Self-
determination in employment settings for adults with intellectual and developmental
disabilities. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals. https://doi.org/10.1177/21651434231186136

Li, Y., Zhang, D., Dulas, H. M., & Whirley, M. L. (2023). The impact of COVID-19 and remote
learning on education: Perspectives from university students with disabilities. Journal of
Disability Policy Studies, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/10442073231185264

Li, Y., Zhang, D., Zhang, Q., & Dulas, H. (2020). University faculty attitudes toward disability and universal design: A literature review. Journal of Inclusive Postsecondary Education, 2(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.13021/jipe.2020.2531

Education:

B.S. in Elementary Education, St. Cloud State University, 1996
B.S. in Special Education, St. Cloud State University, 1996
M.A. in Education, Hamline University, 2010
Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, 2022